Extension ladder and elevator



July 22, 1941. j M. HONIG 2,249,900

' EXTENSION LADDER- ANDv ELEVATOR I Filed Oct. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IIEVENTOR I MW new ,6 15m ATTO R N E'.Y

July-22, 1941*. M, HON; 2,249,900

EXTENSION LADDER AND ELEVATOR INVENTOR 4? gem/W ATTORN EY Patented July22, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE EXTENSION LADDER. AND ELEVATOR.

Morris Honig, New York, N. Y.

Application October 2'7, 1939, Serial No. 301,568

Claims.

My invention relates to extension fire ladders and elevators effectiveto remove people from burning buildings and more particularly toextension ladders and elevators mounted on portable trucks and where acar is employed to carry the people therein down from the building tothe ground.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an elevator that canbe adjusted to various heights to suit the height of the building onfire, so that people can be removed from different floors through thewindows or other openings.

Another feature is the electrically driven mechanism employed to raiseand lower the ladder portion of the device, and the ladder portion beingused as runways for the elevator members and the car.

Another feature is the method of using a single motor to raise and lowerthe car and ladder, and means to select one or the other operations atWill.

Another feature is the safety device associated with the car, effectiveto prevent the same dropping in the event the cable breaks, or anemergency arises whereby the cable does not hold the car in its elevatedposition.

Another feature is the device for locking the car in elevated positionon its runways independently of the motor.

Another feature is the device for adjusting the vertical position of thecar irrespective of the angularity of the ladder portion.

The truck upon which the elevator is mounted is shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 1. Any well known type of truck can be used which has an opentop, to permit the elevator parts to be brought into -a loweredposition, to facilitate its transportation from place to place where itsuse is required, and one feature of this invention is the means wherebythe elevator runways are raised from the truck to operative positionsand returned thereto after use.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of the elevator looking at Fig. 2 from the left ofsection line l-I.

Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. 1 looking from the right at section 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the hoisting mechanism shown at thebottom of Fig. 1 looking at the same from the left.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the part of the device shown at the upper part ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the car partly in section through 5-5;

Similar numbers apply to the same parts throughout the several views.

The equipment consists essentially of the portable truck, theextensionable ladder forming runways or tracks, th car and its truckwhich runs on the tracks, the safety feature carried by the car, and thelifting mechanism for extendingthe ladder and raising or lowering thecar.

The truck l may be of any well known kind mounted on wheels and usuallydriven by an internal combustion engine pivoted to the truck. At a shaft2 is mounted the lowest section of the ladder, this consists of two Ushaped channel members 3 with their open sides facing each other.Slidably mounted in this section are a pair of similar channels 4 ofsmaller size to move freely therein and telescope therewith. The flange6 of the channel 4 is of the proper height so it does not extend abovethe height of the flange 5 on the channel 3.

This construction forms a ladder of two sections. Obviously ladders ofany number of sections can be similarly assembled to extend any desiredheight.

On the front side of the section and secured to the flanges 6 are ladderrungs 5, and on the rear of the sections are mounted the car 51 securedto a truck running on the flanges 6 and also the mechanism 8 for raisingand lowering the upper sections and also the car 51.

On the front of the lower section and at the top thereof, is mounted arotatable shaft 8 having bearings at each end secured to th flanges 3.At the center of th shaft 8 is a pulley 9. Similarly, at the top of theupper section is rotatably mounted a shaft 10 having bearings ll securedto the channels 4. At the center of the shaft it is mounted a pulley [2.

The raising and lowering mechanism is mounted on the flanges 3 at thelower rear side of the lowest section. The motor I3 has an electricbrake I1 and a bracket [6 for supporting the motor [3 is secured to theflanges 3. The motor shaft 2!] drives a worm 2| meshed in two wormwheels l4 and I5 rotatably mounted on shafts l8 and I9 respectively,having bearings in the bracket H3 at one end and in a frame 21 at theother which members are also secured to the I flange 3.

Clutches 28 and 20 are mounted on the shafts l8 and I9 respectively andlongitudinally slidable upon the shafts l8 and I9 respectively. Theclutch 28 engages with the worm wheel M, to rotate the shaft [8 andsimilarly the clutch 29 engages the worm wheel l5 to rotate the shaftI9. Mounted on the shaft I8, and secured thereto, is a drum 22 so thatwhen the clutch 28 engages the worm wheel I4 the drum 22 is rotated.Mounted on the shaft I9 and secured thereto is a smaller drum 23 so thatwhen the clutch 29 engages the worm Wheel I 5 the drum 23 is rotated.The drums 22 and 23 are driven in one direction or th other according tothe direction of rotation of the motor I3.

In order to be able to disconnect the motor from use with one drum anduse it on the other andstill hold the ladder or the car as the casemight be, in its adjusted position, a frame 26 is provided, secured tothe flanges 5, and through which the shafts I8 and I9 pass. Mounted onthe frame 26 are bosses 30 and 3|, where the holding the drums 22 and 23in set position.

The clutches have splines 32 on either side thereof. The splines 32 onone side of the clutches engage depressions A3 in the worm gears I4 andI5 while the splines 32 on the other side engage the ratchet faces ofthe bosses 30 and SI.

In order to be able to shiy the clutches away from the worm wheels I4and I5 into engagement with the stationary bosses 30 and 3| withoutclashing, the distance from the outer ends of the splines 32 on the twosides of the clutches, is less than the distance between the ratchetfaces and the worm wheels.

Each clutch is moved by a lever 34 pivoted at 35 to a bracket 36integral with the frame'26. The outer end of th lever'is provided with ayoke 31 having a pin 38, at each end thereof, operating in a groove, inthe periphery of the rotary member of the clutch.

The cable 24 passes upwardly over an idler 39, mounted on a shaft 45rotatably supported by the flanges 3, and then over the pulley 9 anddown to the lower end of the upper section when it is secured thereto.It is seen that when the drum 23 is rotated, the upper section is raisedor lowered according to its direction of rotation.

We will now consider the car 51 and its associated members. The car 51 irectangular in form and is guided by plates 44, being pivoted thereto bya shaft 4|, passing through the upper part of the car 51. The shaft 4|is supplied with rollers 42 at each end outside the car. The two rollers4! run upon the outside of the flanges 6 as tracks. Upon the inside ofthe flanges 6 another pair of rollers 43 are pivoted to the plate 44 thesame as rollers 42'and 43. It is seen that the plates 44 and rollers 42,43, 45 and 46 form a truck to guide the car 5! in its verticalmovements.

In as much as the ladder sections may be adjusted in use at differentangles, a provision is made to adjust the car 51 into a true verticalposition as follows. A bracket 5'! is secured to the side 48 of the car'51, rotatably mounted therein is a threaded bolt 56 having a worm wheel49 threaded thereon, Engaging the wheel 49 is a worm 50 also journaledin the bracket 47, and mounted securely to a shaft 5|, having a handwheel 52 at the outer end thereof. The shaft 5| runs through the car 5'!to the opposite side where a similar adjusting device is secured,whereby both sides of the car can be simultaneously adjusted.

The bolt 56 is supplied with a head 53 having a slot 54 through whichpasses a pivotal stud 55 secured to the plate 44. By turning the handwheel 52 the position of the car 51 can be adjusted into a verticalposition irrespective of the angle of the ladder sections.

To prevent the car 51 dropping, in the event of the cable 25 breaking, abar 58 is movably held at the top of the car 51 by a bracket 59 ateither side of the car 51. These brackets 59 are secured to the car 51and provide a limited vertical movement of the bar 58 with reference tothe car. The cable 25 is secured by a strap I50 bolted to the middle ofthe bar 58. As the weight of the car 51 and all of its parts aresupported by the bar 58, the normal position of the bar is at the upperlimit of its movement in the strap 59.

Pivoted to the outside of each plate 44 at 64, is mounted a bell crankhaving a long arm 62 and a short arm 63. The long arm 62 is pivotallysecured to the bar 58 by a pivotal connection 65 bolted to the bar. Theshort end 63 of the bell crank is mounted close to, but not touching,the flange 6 in normal operation. To the outer end of the long arm 62 issecured one end of a spiral spring 66 the other end of which is securedto a bracket 61 mounted on the sides of the car 51. It is seen that inthe event of the cable 25 breaking, the springs 66 draw the bar 58downward, thereby rotating the bell cranks 62, on their pivots 64, andbringing the short arm 63 against the flanges 3 with a pressuredepending upon the strength of the springs 66. The friction between theshort arm 53 and the flange 6 prevents the car 51 from dropping.

In order to raise the ladder sections to various operating positionsmany well known mechanisms may be employed. In Fig. 1, however, is shownone method. The channels 3, at their lower end are secured to the shaft2, which is rotatably mounted in the truck I. Upon the shaft 2 ismounted a worm wheel 68, with which is meshed a worm 69, mounted on amotor shaft ID, of a motor I I, mounted on the truck I.

In order to control the motor I3 to raise or lower the car 51 or theupper section of the ladder, a switch is mounted on the inside of thecar 57 as shown in Fig. 1. The switch consists of a movable arm I5pivoted at I3 to the car 51. One end of the arm I5 moves over andcontacts with terminals I9, which are electrically connected to themotor I3. Moving the arm I5 downwardly starts the motor and lowers thecar 51 and vice versa.

In order that the car will automatically stop when it arrives at itsupper or lower limit of travel, a T shaped member is pivoted to the car51, the cross arm I5 of which is connected by links I8, to acorresponding cross arm integral with the switch arm 'II. The long armof the T shaped member extends between the flanges 5 and 6 and theplates 44 and is moved to its central, or off position, by engaging apin 8I as it reaches its upper limit of travel and likewise a pin 82 atits lower limit. The position of the switch as shown in Fig. 1 indicatesthat the operator has set the switch to lower the car 51. When the car51 is at rest the switch arm I5 will be in a horizontal position.

After the sections of the ladder are raised to the desired height, theclutch 29 is thrown into the position shown in Fig. 2 thereby lockingthe sections in fixedposition. In order to operate the car the clutch 28is engaged with the worm wheel l4 and the switch arm isthen shifted fromits horizontal position up or down as required. In order to check themotor l3 in'its movements an electric brake I! is mounted on the endthereof.

Many deviations from the detailed construction given herein may occur toanyone skilled in this art, without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention. Having disclosed one method of embodying the inventionwhereby anyone skilled in the art to which it pertains can make and usethe same, what I claim as my invention and wish to cover by. LettersPatent is as follows.

1. An extension elevator, including telescopic sections, a motoractuated cable associated with adjacent sections for determining theirextension, a truck including wheels bearing against the sections, ashaft passing through opposite wheels on said truck, a car, throughwhich said shaft passes, and on which the car is adjustably mounted, andmeans for adjusting the juxtaposition of the car with reference to thesections.

2. An extension elevator having telescopic sections mounted on avehicle, means on the vehicle for raising and lowering the sections intooperative position, a car mounted on and effective to be raised andlowered on said sections including a plate on either side of the carpivoted thereto at the top of the car, a plurality of wheels, journalledon said plate and engaging the sections to track thereon and means foradjusting the juxtaposition of the car and plates. v

3. An extension elevator having telescopic sections mounted on aportable vehicle and pivoted thereto, means for adjusting theinclination of the sections when elevated, a car riding on said sectionsincluding a worm, a worm wheel meshed therewith, a bolt threaded in saidwheel, a bracket holding the worm and wheel to the car and ahead on thebolt and a carriage riding on said sections to guide the car and towhich the head of the bolt is secured, for adjusting the verticalposition of said car independent of the inclinations of said sections.

4. In combination with an extension elevator including telescopic tracksin sections, means to adjust the same and a car movable on said tracks,of mechanism to raise and lower said car, including a rotatable drum, acable wound thereon and connected to the car, a motor for rotating thedrum and a single means for connecting and disconnecting the motor fromthe drum and looking the same in stationary position when the motor isdisconnected therefrom.

5. In combination with an extension elevator including telescopic tracksin sections, means to adjust the same and a car movable on said tracks,of mechanism to raise and lower the car including a rotatable drum, ashaft on which the drum is mounted, a cable wound on the drum andconnected to the car, a motor for rotating the drum, and clutch membersto actuate the car, mounted on the shaft, including a reciprocatingmanually movable member mounted on the shaft and rotated thereby,mounted between a rotatable mem ber mounted on shaft, driven by themotor, and a stationary member with which the reciprocating memberengages for holding the same from rotating and thereby locking the carin fixed position.

6. An elevator including a pair of spaced channel beams, a car mountedbetween the wheels carried by the car bearing against the beams astracks, a motor effective to actuate the car, a drum driven by the motorhaving a cable wound thereon and secured at one end to the car toactuate the same, a shaft upon which the drum is rotatably mounted androtated by the motor, a drum driving gear driven by the motor mounted onand free to rotate upon the shaft, and a slidable clutch member mountedon the shaft effective to prevent the drum from rotating whendisconnected from the gear.

7. The combination with a hoisting mechanism, an extension elevatorincluding adjustable sections, and'a car raised and lowered on the sameby said mechanism, of hoisting means in cluded in said mechanism foradjusting the height of the sections, including a drum driven by saidmechanism, a cable wound on the drum and secured thereto at one end andsecured to the upper section at the other, for raising and lowering thesame, a second hoisting means, also included in said mechanism, to raiseand lower the car, including a drum driven by said mechanism, a cablewound on the drum and secured thereto at one end and secured to the carat the other end for raising and lowering the same, a worm wheel securedto either drum for rotating the same and a common driver for both gears,including a single worm meshed in both gears, and a motor on the wormshaft for driving the same.

8. The combination with a hoisting mechanism, an extension elevatorincluding adjustable sections, and a car raised and lowered on the sameby said mechanism, of hoisting means included in said mechanism foradjusting the height of the sections, including a drum driven by saidmechanism, a cable wound on the drum and secured thereto at one end andsecured to the upper section at the other, for raising and lowering thesame, a second hoisting means, also included in said mechanism, to raiseand lower the car, including a drum driven by said mechanism, a cablewound on the drum and secured thereto at one end and secured to the carat the other end for raising and lowering the same, a worm wheel securedto either drum for rotating the same and a common driver for both gears,including a single worm meshed in both gears, and selecting mechanismassociated with both hoisting means and common driver to connect eitherhoisting means therewith and a motor on the worm shaft for driving thesame.

9. The combination with a hoisting mechanism, an extension elevatorincluding adjustable sections, and a car raised and lowered on the sameby said mechanism, of hoisting means included in said mechanism foradjusting the height of the sections, including a drum driven by saidmechanism, a cable wound on the drum and secured thereto at one end andsecured to the upper section at the other, for raising and lowering thesame, a second hoisting means, also included in said mechanism, to raiseand lower the car, including a drum driven by said mechanism, a cablewound on the drum and secured thereto at one end and secured to the carat the other end for raising and lowering the same, a worm wheel securedto either drum for rotating the same and a common driver for both gears,and manually operated mechanism associated with each hoisting meanseifective to connect the same into operative engagement with the,

common driver and a motor on the worm shaft for driving the same.

10. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower the sameat different angles, a carriage including wheels to run on said ladder,a car pivotally connected to said carriage, manually operated meansincluded in the car to adjust the angular relation between the car andthe carriage and means to raise and lower the carriage on said ladder.

11. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower the sameat different angles, a carriage including a pair of spaced side platesbetween which the same is mounted, a plurality of shafts connectingthe'plates and extending beyond the same, and a wheel journaled on eachextension, effective to run on said ladder, a car pivotally connected atthe top to said carriage, means to adjust the angular relation betweenthe car and the carriage and means to raise and lower the carriage onsaid ladder.

Y 12. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower thesame at different angles, a carriage including a pair of spaced sideplates, a plurality of shafts connecting the same and extending beyondthe plates, and a wheel journaled on each extension, effective to run onsaid ladder, a car pivotally connected at the topto said carriage by oneof said shafts, means to adjust the angular relation between the car andthe carriage and means to raise and lower the carriage on said ladder.

13. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower the sameat different angles, a

carriage including apair of spaced side plates, a plurality of shaftsconnecting the same and extending beyond the plates, and a wheeljournaled on each extension effective to run on said ladder, a carpivotally connected to said carriage by one of said shafts passingthrough the upper portion of said car, means to adjust the angularrelation between the car and the carriage and means to raise and lowerthe carriage on said ladder.

14. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower the sameat different angles, a carriage to run on said ladder, a car pivotallyconnected at the top to said carriage, means to adjust the angularrelation between the car and the carriage, including a bolt secured atone end to the carriage and a nut, rotatably journaled in the car,engaging the opposite end of said bolt, and means to raise and lower thecarriage on said ladder.

15. In a fire escape device, a ladder, means to raise and lower the sameat difierent angles, a carriage to run on said ladder, a car pivoted tosaid carriage and means to adjust the angular relation between the carand carriage, including a bolt secured at one end to the carriage and anut, rotatably journaled in the car, said nut, constituted by a wormwheel, a worm engaged therewith and means to rotate said worm, and meansto raise and lower the carriage on said ladder.

MORRIS HONIG.

